Button-attaching machine



March 31, 1931. J L K 1,798,970

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE med May 16, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31, 1931. J. M. CLARK 1,798,970

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 mfeni'i March 31, 1931.- M 1,793,970

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Fil ed May 16, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 31, 1931. J. M. CLARK 1,798,970

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 31, 1931. f J. M, CLARK 1,798,970

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 March 31, 1931. M CLARK 1,798,970

BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Ill/I March 31, 1931.

J. M. CLARK 1,798,970

BUTTON ATTACHI NG MACHINE Filed May 16, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 0; fa/572 Czar/. 6

Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. CLARK, 01F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T UNIVERSAL BUTTON FASTEN ENG- .AND BUTTON COMPANY, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICH- IGAN BUTTON-ATTACHING MACHINE Application filed May 16,

This invention relates to button attaching machines or the like, and aims to provide an improved and reliable high speed attaching machine.

. The invention may be readily understood by reference to one practicable machine embodying the invention, which machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

in said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-section of one form of a united button and fastener selected for the purpose of illustration in connection with the present machine;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one side of the machine Fig. 3 is a view of the opposite side of the machine Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine viewed from the front, this section having been taken on a plane through the attaching mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the machine (certain upper parts having been omitted to permit enlargement), taken on a central plane extending from the front to the rear of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a plan section of a detail, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 'i' is a transverse,vertical section of the machine, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5;

8 is a plan section of a detail, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a detail view (partly in section) showing one of the clutches for rotating the button and fastener hoppers;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a latch bar to permit opening and closing of the hoppers;

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 111'1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a plan section of certain mechanism for moving a fastener to attaching position;

la is a perspective view of the lower portion of the fastener raceway, showing the device for checking the column of fastener in the raceway;

Figs. 15 and 16 are plan sections of the section,

1925. Serial No. 30,686.

Fig. 18 (taken on line 18-18 of Fig. 11) is a plan section of the fastener positioning mechanism showing particularly the oscillating fastener transferring disc, which in this figure is in position to deliver a fastener slide,-the corresponding vertical section being illustrated in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19is a view similar to Fig. 18, but showing the oscillating disc in position to receive a fastenerfrom the fastener raceway;

Fig; 20 is a vertical, longitudinal section, taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 16, showing the button and fastener placing mechanism, and a buttOn and fastener in attaching position;

Fig. 21 is a front viewof the upper portion of the machine, showing the storage hoppers for buttons and fasteners,"

Fig. 22 is a sectional, side elevation, taken on the line 22-422 of Fig. 21, of one of the storage hoppers;

Fig. 23 is a transverse section,'taken on the line E2323 of Fig. 7 ,of the machine control clutch;

Fig. 24.- is a roll-carrier Fig.25 is a perspective view of the clutch cam.

The illustrative machine is arranged for the automatic attachment of bar type but perspective view of the clutch tons by means of double-pronged fasteners.

A typical button and fastener is illustrated in Fig. 1,-the prongs 10 and llof the fastener having been bent around the bar 12 of the button into the position they assume after the button has been attached to a gal" nent or the like. These and similar buttons and fasteners are advantageously relatively adjusted by the illustrative machine so that, upon attachment, the prongs of the fastenseparated by levers 16 and 17, connected at" their ends with'the respective dies and pivoted, respectively at 18 and 19, in the machine frame on casting 20.

The die i is carried by a cylindrical" plunger 21 mounted, in this instance, in the tubula sleeve 22 forming part of the machine rrame which plunger is provided with a rack 23 :nesnmg with a curved rack 2% on the lever 16, a d by means of which the die 14 is reciprocated. V

The size and shape of the die 14 obviously may be varied to suit the size and type of button attached. With a closed top button (as illustrated in Fig. 1), the die merely engages the upper surface of the button and the prongs of the fastener are upset by the individual die or the like provided inside the button. When an open top button is employed, the lower end of the upper die enters the top of the button and itself serves as the die for u settin the norms of the fastener.

A button holder, represented in this instance by button holding aws 25, is arrange l to hold a button adj acent the die 1%, and, to carry-it to the point of attachment. The jaws 25 are pivotally mounted at 26 in a sleeve 27 slidably surrounding the die 14* and are pressed inwardly by springs 28. A device represented by the friction slide 29 having a frictional connection with the die carrying member 21, serves to move the but ton holding jaws with the die. Resistance encountered by engagement of the button with the garment at the point of attachment,

interrupts. or retards the movement (by breaking the frictional connection of the slide 29 with the plunger 21) of the button holding jaws, relative to the die,thereby permitting 33, the compression on the spring surround ing holder 33, thus varying the pressure between the faces of the slide and the faces of the groove. The downward movement of the button-holding jaws is limited by ongagementof the upper end 34: of slide 29 with the bottom of the slot 35 in which the slide travels.

the die, through cooperation ofthe cam surfaces 30, to e ect the button from.

On the return or upward movement of the die and die carrier 21, the button holding jaws are restored to their normal position with respect to the lower end of the die, by the engagement of the part 34 of the slide with the upper end of slot 35, which arrests the travel of the button holding jaws while the movement of the die continues.

Fastener holding means are representedby the jaws 36 pivoted at 37 in; the member 38 surrounding the lower die 15, and resiliently pressed together by leaf springs 39. In the present instance, the fastener is placed upon the end of the die 15, when the latter is in its lower posit-ion and there engaged by the jaws 36, the faces of which are appropriately recessed to receive the head andprongs of thefastener (see Fig. 20). During the attaching operation, the upward movement of the die 15, carrying with it the fastener,

separates the jaws 36 by the action of the cam surfacesdO at the upper end of the die.

The upper and lower die mechanisms are constructed and arran ed to permit relative yielding during the uniting operation, to accommodate variations in. the thickness of the garment, etc. This is accomplished in this instance by resiliently supporting the pivot shaft 19 of the lever 17 (see Figull). Sinccthe illustrative. mechanism normally moves the dies to a definite distance'a-part,

the resilient mounting of the pivot shaft 19 permits a relative yielding to arrest the approach of the dies whenever they encounter excessive resistance to closer approach because of the thickness of the garment or otherwise. In the present instance, the pivot shaft 19 is resiliently mounted upon rods al, the lower ends of which are supported by a plurality of appropriately stiff,

normally compressed, coil springs t2,'resting on screws which may be adjusted to vary the minimum pressure at which the pivot 19 will yield (see Fig. 11).,

. The foregoing arrangement provides an adequately stiff resilient support for the pivot 19, it being desirable to prevent yielding of the dies before adequate force has been exerted properly to upset the prongs 0f the fastener and firmly unite the button thereby. l3fO16OV61','RIl adequate number of springs of sufficient size and strength may be employed to exert adequate resistance to a premature yielding, without placing the springs under a. harmful and destructive initial compression. This arrangementalso simplifies the construction of the upper and lower dies by obviating the need for internal springs or other means toprovide for yielding of the dies.

The operation of the foregoing described mechanism for receiving buttons'and fasteners and thereafter uniting them is coordinated with appropriate mechanisms for supplying buttons and fasteners properly relatively adjusted. In the drawings one form of such mechanism is illustrated.

in this illustrative machine, buttons and fasteners are contained respectively in the removable storage hoppers 43, that for the buttons being on the right and that for the fasteners on the left, in Fig. 21. These hopper. are removably secured to the upper portion of the machine frame, above the supply or fee ig hoppers el l and is, by means of appro rate screw clamps it, and are provided with hopper bottoms designed to discharge the buttons or fasteners into the ap aropriate feeding hopper. The hopper discharge openings at? are closed by gates 418 pivoted at 9 and having operating handles it), by means of which they may be raised by the operator, as occasion requires, to replenish the supply of buttons or fasteners in the feeding hopper.

lh'eferably, the storage hoppers have a capacity of at least one or more days supply of buttons or fasteners. They may be easily ,a'emovod from the machine frame by unscrewing the screw clamp 46 whenever it is desired to change the type or size of but tons or fasteners used in the machine. The Moi-age hoppers further obviate the necesy of frequent filling of the feeding hoppers by direct introduction therein of fastenors or buttons by the operator, accompanied by frequent spilling of buttons or fa:=-:teners which may become damaged thereby. The attempt to use such damaged buttons and fasteners causes damage to the machine and frequent interruption in operation.

line portion of the respective feeding hopuers 's provided with means, herein repre d by the rotary cones 51, for supplying buttons and fasteners to the respective raceways. For this purpose the free edges 52 the cones are provided with appropriatoly shaped passages 53 and 5a, which pe nut the escape therethrough of buttons or f steners when in a predetermined position. For example, in the present instance, the button pat-sages 53 are designed to permit the passage of but-tons when they lie in a vertical plane with the tops of the buttons the left, with respect to the illustration in :l lJ Fin. 7. in this position they escape into the curved p sage at the edge of the stationary por on of the supply hopper a l and from thence into the button racewa 56 I where they he in a single row r column in a undetermined nosrcon. This oosition is .L sucii that when the buttons reach the lower or llOl'lZOlltill portion of the raceway 5'6 from which they are discharged, they he lilllll their tops uppermost. To insure an adcrmate supply of buttons to the raceway the button cone ma Y be su )nhed with one or more agitators 07 which, upon the rotation of .7 1 button cone, tumble the buttons and prevent them from lying inertly at the bot tom of the hopper.

The passages 54, for the fasteners, are designed to permit a similar escape of fasteners when the prongs thereof lie one in advance of the other and their heads lie to the right with respect to the mechanism illustrated in Fig. In this position, during the rotation of the fastener hopper 51, they escape into the curved passage 58, at the upper portion of the hopper, which leads to the fastener raceway 59. In the fastener raceway the fasteners lie in a. column or single row with their prongs one in advance of the other and with their heads at the right with respect to the front of the machine.

The cones 51 are rotated by appropriate mechanism represented herein by the chain 60 and sprocket 61 on the hopper shaft 62. The ratchet-s (S3, effecting a driving; connec tion with cones 51, permit rotation thereof in their normal direction independently of the drive or at a rate faster ban the drive. finch facility for independentrotation is advantageous to permit a filling of the fastener and button hoppers when the machine is first started with a given style or size of buttons and fasteners. Such an arrangen'lent also makes it convenient to construct the hopper drive to operate only while the machine actually attaching" any idle periods of the attaching mechanism. The latter is desirable because it minimizes the defaccment or n'larring of the buttons or fasteners which might result by continuous rotation of the hoppers Whenever the machine was under power.

The ratchet ('33 is maintained in yielding engagement with the mating ratchet 64 on shaft 62 by spring 65 carried between it and an appropriate shoulder on the cone hub 66, to which it is connected for driving by a tongue and slot connection 67 and 68, thereby permitting a longitudinal relative movement of the ratchet 63 and a longitudinal movement of the cone independently of the ratchet.

The hoppers may be emptied by moving the cones 51 outwardly a suflicient distance to release a jam or to permit the fasteners or buttons to escape over the free edge of the cone. Means for conveniently accomplishing this is represented by the latch 69 (carried in an eccentric sleeve or bushing in the cones, see Fig. 8), which removably retains the cone in position on the shaft 62. A spring 70 iolds the end7 l of the latch an appropriatcly shaped groove 72 in the cone shaft which maintains a proper space at thefree edge of the cone for the escape of buttons or fasteners. By rotating the eccentric sleeve which surrounds the latch (see Fig. 8) the free edge of the cone may be moved in or out to adjust the depth of the passages 55 and 56 buttons, and not during The latch may be released by raising the handle 73 thereof until the latch clears the groove 72, after which the cone may be moved outwardly on shaft 82. ll suitable stop represented by the rod Tl revents complete or accidental removal of the cone from shaft 62. 3 spring 75 located in an appropriate recess in the shaft 62 and engaging the inner end of the rod atone end and a plug '56 in the end of the shaft, resiliently pulls the cone 51, through its engagement with head 77 of the rod, in vardly to its proper position. The head 7'! of the plug 76 acts as a stop to prevent the complete withdrawal of the cone from shaft 62.

The raceway sections below the points 7 8 and 79 respectively are made removable to permit them to be emptied whenever this becomes necessary or desirable. In the present instance, the fastener raceway section. may be removed by unscrewing suitable screws, in-.

cluding the adjusting screws 80, which passes through an adjusting slot in the raceway bracket 81. The button raceway may be removed by unscrewing appropriate screws, such as the screw 82.

Thus the feeding hoppers and raceways may be emptied w'thout the necessity of running the surplus buttons and fasteners through the machine, a tedious and wasteful process.

Preferably both the button and fastener raceways are made of a size to accomodate various sizes and styles of buttons.

The buttons are removed one by one from the lower end of the button raceway by means, represented herein by the reciprocating button receiver 83 which reciprocates adjacent the end of the raceway and is provided with recess 8 1 shaped to receive a button with its top uppermost, when such recess registers with the discharge end of the button raceway (see Figs. 12, 15 and 16). Upon its rearward movement, or travel toward the left, in the receiver 83 '(see'Fig. 15), the button eventually engages a stationary cam 85, which cams or moves it laterally through an opening 86 in the wall of the passage in which the receiver 83 slides, and places it top up on the button carrier 87. During this operation the end 88 of the receiver prevents he escape of buttons from the raceway. On its return movement (to the right), the button receiver again receives another -u ton from the raceway when the button recess 85 registers therewith, such position being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 16. The outer edge of the receiver is beveled at 89 to slideunder the tops of an buttons which might be tilted as they lie at the end of the raceway, thereby to place them in proper. position to slide readily into the button receiver.

A reciprocating movement is imparted to the button receiver 83, in this instance, by an appropriately designed lost motion connection with the end of the button slide or carrier 8'? represented by a shoulder 91 projecting into an elongated recess or slot 92 in the button carrier slide 90. The amplitude or range of travel of the reciprocations of the button carrier slide exceeds that of the receiver, and the latter is moved only when one or the other ends of the slot 92 engage with the shoulder 91. To prevent displacement or over-carry of the button receiver, particularly during high speed operation of the machine, a drag or friction is placed thereon, in this instance, by the pin'93, pressed against the surface of the slide by leaf spring 94, to prevent its traveling beyond its proper position under the inertia given it from the impulse of the slide 90.

l fter a button has been placed upon the button carrier or slide 87 it remains in a relatively stationary position, by engagement with the inclined walls 95 and 96 of the carrier passage, until it is en aged by the recessed seat 97' (having a contour following generally that of the buttons) upon the forward movement of the carrier. Thereupon, the button is carried froward and the track or guide 98, pivoted at 99, yields suiiiciently to permit the button to pass the inclined walls 95 and 96, the latter being on guide 98. T he guide 98 is resiliently pressed inwardly by the leaf spring 100 which acts through the pin 101.

On one side of the carrier passage the head of the button travels in and is engaged by a groove 102 in the surface of the guide 98, and on the opposite side, the shank or collet of the button is engaged by guide 103, on this side the head of the button being unengagcd. Thus the button is engaged on opposite sides by guides which bear against it at different distances from the-center of the button. That is, the guide 103 engages the button at a point nearer its center than the point of engagement of the guide 98. The differential frictions thus exerted on the button, by guides 98 and 103, at difiercnt distances from the center of the button develop a difierential turning moment, which causes the button to rotate in a clockwise direction, looking down upon it in Fig. 16. In other words, as the'button travels forward it rolls along the guide 98, because this guide exerts the greater frictional turning moment.

As the button is thus moved forward, an adjusting device repreiented by the fork 104, having a recess therein of a size to engage the bar 12 of the. button, is resiliently pressed upward and when, during the rotation of the button, the bar registers with the notch in the fork, the latter springs upwardly and straddles it, thereby interrupting further rotary movement. In the present arrangement this rotation of the button is interrupted when the bar thereof is adjusted to a position to lie transversely of the plane of the fastener prongs when the latter are in attaching position.

The fork 104 is mounted on a lever 105 pivoted at 106 in the carrier 87, and is resiliently pressed upwardly by spring 107. A cam 108 on lever 105 engaging the cam surface 109, lowers the fork below the upper surface of the carrier, when the latter is in position to receive a button. Thus the fork is prevented from obstructing the proper positioning of the button upon the carrier.

The forward travel of the carrier is continued until the button is placed in the spring button-holding jaws 25, at which time the cam 108 engages the cam surface 110 resulting in the depression of the fork 104 to permit the carrier to be withdrawn without disturbing the adjusted and positioned button.

Upon the return travel of the button carrier, to prevent a premature raising of the adgusting fork 104, eitner to disturb a placed button or a button which being delivered to the carrier, the spring 107 is rendered temporarily functionlcss to prevent such raising of the fork 104. llsleans for effecting this operation typified herein in the diiferential lever 111 pivoted at 112, the longitudinal arm 113 of which engages the spring and the shorter arm 114 engaging, in one position, the underside of lever 105 adjacent its end and, in another position, the end of lever 105. In the forward position,

illustrated in Fig. 20, the engagement of cam 108 with the cam surface 110 has carried the end 115 of lever 105 above arm 114, in which position, the spring 107 exerts, through the long and short arms 118 and 114, a differential, counter-clockwise turning moment upon lever 111 (the turning moment in a counter-clockwise direction effected through arm 113 being greater than that in a clockwise direction tl1101l?,l1 lever 114). In the present arrangement a portion, of the downward pressure of spring 107 is transmitted to and carried by pivot 106, thus serving to increase the differential of counter-clockwise turning moment on lever 111. The result of this differential counter-clock wise turning moment is to elevate, instead of depress, the left hand end of lever 105, thereby holding the for: 104 in a depressed position even when, on return movement, it has withdrawn from the influence of cam 110. This position of the fork and levers is maintained until the arm 113 strikes the cam surface 109, moving the arm 114 to the left until it clears the end 115 of lever 105, at which time the latter is moving downwardly by the spring until it resumes substantially a horizontal position. The upward pressure of spring 107 is exerted through arms 113 and 114 upon the end 115 of lever 105, instead of upon its lower surface, thereby destroying the tendency ofthe lever 111 to raise the left hand end of lever 105. WVhen the arm 114 engages theend 115 its influence is to raise instead of lower the fork 104, because its turning moment about pivot 106 is now exerted in a counter-clockwise instead of a clockwise direction. The parts are designed to afford an Opportunity for the slight movement of lever 105 during the adjustment of the button, without disturbing the cooperation of lever 105 and arm 114.

The lower end of the fastener raceway terminates adjacent an oscillating disc 116, having therein a slot or recess 117 shaped to hold a single fastener with the legs thereof one above the other, and located to register periodically with the end of the fastener raceway. lVhen the disc is oscillated into nonregistering position, its blank surface serves to close the end of the raceway. The disc 116 is pivoted about pivot 118 and oscillated by 0' the reciprocating bar or shuttle 119, having a slot 120 therein, into which pin 121 on disc 116 projects. In the present instance, shuttle 119 is reciprocated by the button carrier reciprocating slide 122, which has an amplitude of travel in excess of that required for oscillating the disc 116. For that reason the rod 119 is provided with a lost motion connection therewith, represented by spring 123 which frictionally engages a flattened sur face 124 on shuttle 119 with suflicient pressure to impart motion thereto. The oscillation of the disc 116 is limited by contact of pin 125 with shoulders 126 on theunder surface of the disc, whereupon rod 124 slips beneath spring 123. The flattened surface of the shuttle terminates at 120.

Sometime during the oscillation of the disc 116, while the blank surface is across the end of the raceway, ain 130 on disc 110 engages the cam surface 131 on pivoted lever 132 and withdraws the finger 133 from the fastener raceway, thereby permitting the column of fasteners momentarily to restupon the surface of the disc. After the release of the lever, the finger re-enters the raceway and divides the column of fasteners, leaving one fastener below the finger and supporting the balance of the fasteners.

The fastener thus left below the finger 133 drops into the recess 117 when the latter registers with the raceway (see Fig. 11) and upon oscillation of the disc 116 (in this instance in a counter-clockwise direction), is carried therein to the fastener passage 134 down which it slides until it comes substantially into a horizontal position (see Fig. 17) withthe head of the fastener down and one prong thereof in advance of the other and ready to be engaged by the leading end of the reciprocating fastener slide 135, which moves it to the setting position.

To minimize delay and to permit high speed operation the fastener passage 134 is arranged to reduce as much as possible the distance through which the fastener is. required to drop under the influence of gravity, and is arranged to cause the fastener to travel toward its setting point after it has been dropped.

To illustrate, if the fastener were required to drop by gravity a substantial distance, it is possible, during high speed operation, that it would not have travelled to its proper position in time to be engaged by the slide for moving it forward. The fastener slide 135 is appropriately shaped to correspond with the contour of the fastener, having a recess for its head and a portion to engage the trailing prong.

Preferably the fastener jaws 36 are provided with diver ing faces adjacent the point where the fastener first engages them, whereby they may be readily wedged apart to receive the fastener.

After the fastener slide 135 has retreated a full stroke, another fastener is dropped into position and the operation is repeated In the present machine, the operations of the button carrier and fastener slides are synchronized by a single operating means represented by the slide or cross head 122, the fastener slide being secured thereto at 136. The slide 122 is mounted in guideway 137 and reciprocated by lever 138 pivoted at 139. Lever 138 is actuated to move slide 122 forward by coil spring 140, connected at one end therewith and at the other end with the pivot shaft bearing 141. The slide 122 isretreated, through lever 138, by cam 142 on the main shaft 143. The cam actuates the lever through a cam roll 144, carried in a reciprocating block 145 whichengages the arm 146 on lever 138.

Thus, the forward travel of the slide 122 is independent ofcam 142, thereby avoiding the possibility of insuihcient forward carry through lost motion occasioned by wear of the cam or other parts. The spring 1 40 always carries the button and fastener into the setting position. regardless of the wear of any of the operating parts.

The main shaft 143 is conveniently utilized to drive the other portions of the mechanism. Lever 16 is oscillated by eccentric 147, which operates within the eccentric strap 148 pivoted to one end of lever 16. Lever 17 is reciprocated by cam 149 on shaft 143 and Power is supplied to shaft 143, in this instance, through a clutch represented by the driving clutch ring 158, the releasing clutch rolls 159, and the driven clutch cam or ring 160. The ring 158 is carried upon the hub of the driving pulley 161 and ring 160 is keyed to the main shaft 143. Cain 160 is provided with wedging cam surfaces 162, which serve to wedge the cam rolls 159 sufficiently tightly against the driven ring 158 to transmit power from the latter to shaft 143. The clutch may be released by moving therolls 159 into the depressed portions or recesses 163 of the clutch cam, in which positions they transmit no force to the clutch cam, and permit the clutch ring 158 to rotate independently of shaft 143. To effect engagement and release of the clutch in this manner, a cam roll ring 164 is provided to control the position of the cam rolls relative to the clutch earn 160. In the present machine, the clutch is released by engaging the projecting shoulder or stop 165 on ring 164, with the lever 166, the upper end of which is provided with a buffer spring 167 to reduce the shock. The arresting of the rotation of the cam roll ring 164 serves to move the rolls 159in a direction counter uo the rotation of the clutch ring, thereby bringing the rolls into the enlarged recesses 163, in which position they release the clutch. The clutch control lever166 is normally held, by spring 168, in engagement with the roll ring 164. It is operated, in the present instance, by an operators foot lever (not shown) through an appropriate connecting means herein represented by the rod 169. A downward pull of rod 169 serves to release the clutch and the frictional drag of the counter-clockwise rotation of ring 158 (in Fig. 23) serves to wedge the rolls 159 and thereby transmit power to shaft 143.

A brake represented by the brake cam or eccentric 170 on shaft 143 is provided for automatically stopping the machine, after the release of the clutch, in a convenient polease the attached button. The cam 170 is adjusted on shaft 143 to be engaged by the brake 171, when the dies are thus separated. The brake is adj ust-ed to exert sufficient pressure upon the cam surface 170 to stop the machine within these limits. In the present 'machine, the brake 171 constantly remains in braking position and periodically engages the braking surface 17 0, whether or not the clutch is released. IIowever, the friction exerted by the brake is insignificant compared to the power of the driving mechanism,its frictional resistance being only predominant when the power has been released by the clutch. Brake pressure against the brake surf-ace 170 may be adjusted by screw 172 to advance or retreat a spring which exerts pres All lit]

lif

sure against the brake 171 when the latter engages the braking surface 170. The brake is surfaced by appropriate friction material 173.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 565, filed June 2, 1.922.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to details of construction of the illustrative machine, which may be variously modified. lvloreover it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly. In fact they may be used to advantage in various different combinations and sub-combinations.

ilaving described one embodiment of my invention, 1 claim:

1. in a button attaching machine, the combination comprising a button adjusting device, a spring for moving said device into adjiu-sting position, and means for causing said spring to hold said device out of adjusting position.

2'. In a button attaching machine, the combination comprising an adjusting lever, a spring for pressing said lever int-o adjusting position, and means for causing said spring periodically to hold said lever out of adjusting position.

3. In a button attaching machine, the combination comprising a reciprocating adjusting device, a spring holding said device in adjusting position during a portion of one stroke of said reciprocating device, and means for rendering said spring inoperative during the opposite olre to hold said device in adjusting position.

i. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising an adjusting device mounted for reciprocation, a spring for holdingsaid device in adjusting position during the active portion of the cycle of reciprocation, and a pivoted member associated with said spring and adjustable to shift the pressure of said spring to .hold said device out of adjusting position during the remainder of said cycle.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising an adjusting lover, a spring acting on said lever to bias the same in one direction, and a pivoted member associated with said spring and having a differential turning movement produced by said spring, whereby the latter may be caused to bias said lever in the other c irection,

(i. In apparatus of the class described, the combination comprising an adjusting lover; a. spring acting on said lever to bias the same in one direction; and a pivoted member associated with said spring and having a differential turning movement produced by said sprin whereby the latter may be caused to bias said lever in the other direction; said member having an arm engaging the end of said lever, whereby said member may be rendered functionless.

7. In a button attaching machine, the combination comprising a machine base having die supportingmeans projecting therefromand constructed and arranged to support a pair of oppositely arranged dies in alinement at a point infront of said base so as to be readily accessible by the operator without interference of said base, a pair of relatively movable dies carried in said die supporting means, means for feeding buttons and attaching fasteners into operative relation to said dies, die operating means in said base and 8. In a button attaching machine, the combinationcomprising a machine base having die supporting means projecting therefrom and constructed and arranged to support a pair of oppositely arranged dies in alinemeat at a point in front of said base so as tobe readily accessible by the operator without interference of said base, a pair of relatively movable dies carried in said die supporting means, means for feeding buttons and at taching fasteners into operative relation to said dies, die operating means lIlSEL'lEl base and connected with said dies, and resihent n'ieans under substantial initial compression located in said base and associated with said operating means to permit a relative yielding of said dies when a predetermined die pres sure is reached. i

9. In a button attaching machine the combination comprising a machine base having die supporting means projecting therefrom and constructed] and arranged to support a pair of oppositely arranged dies in alinement at a point in front of said base so as to be readily accessible by the operator Without interference of said base, a pair of dies carried in said die supporting means and relatively movable to close upon a positioned button and fastener, means for feeding buttons and attaching fasteners into operative relation to said dies, die operating means in said baseand connected with said dies, and means in said base and associated with said operating means for checking the closing move ment of said dies during the attaching operation upon the exertion of a predetermined die pressure.

10. In a button attaching machine the combination comprisinga machine base having means for supporting a pair of movable dies in alinement in front of the machine, upper and lower attaching dies movably supported by said supporting means, mechanism for operating said dies including a lever extending forward from said base and operatively connected with said lower die, a shaft in said base for pivoting said lever, and springs under substantial initial compression supporting each end of said shaft and adapted to yield when the pressure of the upper die xceeds a predetermined amount, said base being provided with hearing recesses adjacent the ends of said shaft to limit the yielding movement of said shaft.

11. In a button attaching machine the combination comprising a machine base having a stationary sleeve for mounting a die, a setting die movable in said sleeve, a button holder for holding a button adjacent the end of said die, a slot in said sleeve, and friction means in said slot for connecting said holder with saiddie, the ends of said slot providing means for limiting. the movement of said holder with said die.

12. In a button attaching machine the combination comprising a movable setting die having a groove therein; button holding means slidable relative to said die; and friction means in said groove connecting said holding means with said die to cause the former to move with said die, said friction means arranged to permit movement relative to said die when the friction is overcome.

18. In a button attaching machine the combination comprising a movable setting die having a dovetailed groove therein, button holding means slidable relative to said dies, and adjustable friction means having a member located in said groove for frictionally connecting said holding means with said die.

14-. In button attaching mechanism, the combination comprising a movable setting die, a sleeve surrounding the free end of said die, means engaging said die at a point above said sleeve for frictionally connecting said sleeve with said die, and button holding jaws pivoted on said sleeve for holding a button adjacent said end of said the 15. In a button attaching machine, the combination comprising button placing device, a movable pin for locating a button on said device, a spring for holding said pin in operative position, and means for periodically biasing said spring to hold said pin out of operative position. j v

16. In a button attaching machine, the combination comprising a button placing device, a movable pin forlocating a button on said device, a spring for holding said pin in operative position, and means for periodically reversing the action of said spring to cause it to hold said pin out of operative position.

17 In a button attaching machine the combination comprising a machine base having means for supporting a pair of movable dies in alinement in front of the machine, upper and lower attaching dies movably supported by said supporting means, mechanism for moving said dies together including a lever fulcrumed in said base and extending for ward from said base and operatively connected with said lower due, and means including springs in substantial initial compression means for supporting a pair of movable dies in alinement infront of the machine, upper and lower attaching dies movably supported by said supporting means, mechanism for moving said dies together including a fulcrumed lever extending forward from said base and operatively connected with said lower die, and resilient means supporting said lever fulcrum for allowing said fulcrum to yield when the pressure exerted by said upper die exceeds a predetermined amount.

19. In a button attaching machine the combination comprising a machine base having die supporting means projecting therefrom and constructed and arranged to support a pair of oppositely arranged dies in alinement at a point in front of said base so as to be readily accessible by the operator without interference of said base, a pair of dies carried in said die supporting means and relatively movable to close upon a positioned button and fastener, means for feeding buttons and attaching fasteners directly forward from a position in said base and behind said diesinto operative relation with said dies, die operating means in said base and connected with said dies, and means for permitting said lower die to move down with the upper die during the completion of the attaching operation.

20. In a button attaching machine the com bination comprising a machine base, upper and lower dies operable to attach a button with a fastener, a stationary sleeve on said base in which said upper die is movably mounted, a button holder for holding a button adjacent the end of said die, mechanism for feeding a button to said holder and a fastener to said lower die, and means engaging a portion only of the circumference of said die for frictionally connecting said holder with said die, said frictionmeans being adapted to permit relative movement between said holder and said die. p

21. A button attaching machine comprising in combination, button and fastener attaching mechanism, feeding mechanism therefor including a reciprocating slide, an oscillating device for actuating said slide, means providing a lost-motion connection between said device and slide, and a friction drag operative to prevent overtravel of said slide. Y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification JOHN M. CLARK. 

